Media Releases
CCS Takes Action Against 45 Businesses and a Fake Review Provider for Fabricating Online Reviews
30 September 2026
(View media release [PDF, 809.33 KB] (opens in new tab) in PDF)
1. Online reviews shape purchasing decisions. But what if those glowing five-star ratings were never real to begin with? Following investigations into a provider of fake review services and businesses that procured such reviews, the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (“CCS”) has taken enforcement action against the parties, requiring them to cease their unfair practices, remove posted fake reviews, and post and maintain a public apology for a period of six months.
2. CCS’s investigations found that Julian Tung Yan Kai (“JT”), through businesses and websites that he owns and operates, had provided fake review services to approximately 100 businesses. JT is the sole director of Reputifly Pte. Ltd. (“Reputifly”) and owns and operates the websites BuyReviewSG and GetReviewSG, through which fake review services were offered to businesses (collectively the “Fake Review Provider”).
Largest number of businesses investigated in a CCS case
3. This is CCS’s largest fake review investigation to date with regard to the number of businesses involved. Given the scale of the case, the investigation is being conducted in two phases. This Media Release pertains to the first phase which covers the Fake Review Provider and 47 businesses that procured its services. CCS has commenced in the second phase of its investigation, which extends beyond the remaining businesses to other businesses that may have procured fake review services from the Fake Review Provider.
4. Of the 47 businesses investigated by CCS in the first phase, two declined to provide undertakings on CCS’s required terms. CCS will continue its investigations into the two businesses and take firmer enforcement action, if the facts support this.
How the Fake Review Operation Worked
5. CCS’s investigations revealed that sometime on or before 2023, the Fake Review Provider started providing fake review services by creating and facilitating the posting of fake reviews on online review platforms[1]. The Fake Review Provider eventually provided such services to approximately 100 businesses. Businesses could purchase packages of fake reviews to be posted periodically[2], and they could even use a rating calculator to work out how many five-star reviews they needed to reach their desired Google rating[3].
6. The Fake Review Provider used Generative Artificial Intelligence (“Gen AI”) to create reviews designed to resemble genuine customer experiences. Gen AI was used to vary writing styles and sentence structures, incorporate details such as Singapore context and introduce natural imperfections. Clients were able to edit the generated reviews before publication.
7. The Fake Review Provider gradually refined its services into a sophisticated operation. As part of these developments, it introduced an online dashboard[4] to generate, manage and track fake reviews. The dashboard could also draw from a business’ existing four and five-star Google reviews to generate new reviews containing relevant details. Some fake reviews deliberately described initial reservations before recounting a positive experience, creating an illusion of authenticity. The dashboard could also generate links for clients to view screenshots of fake reviews that had been posted for their businesses and track the progress of their orders.
8. To recruit individuals to post the fake reviews, the Fake Review Provider used Telegram accounts and channels, offering payment[5] in exchange for posting prepared content and ratings. Individuals were instructed to avoid duplicate reviews to reduce the risk of detection. The Fake Review Provider also offered to replace reviews removed by online platforms, capped at 30 per cent of the reviews purchased[6].
What CCS Found
9. Businesses engaged the Fake Review Provider to procure and post fake reviews on their behalf, agreeing on the number of reviews to be posted, with content either generated by the provider or supplied by the businesses themselves. The reviews were presented as genuine reviews from customers when they were not. Consumers could reasonably have been misled into believing that these businesses or their products and services were more popular or positively received than they actually were.
10. 45 businesses[7] admitted that they had procured and purchased fake reviews from the Fake Review Provider, and that some or all of those fake reviews had been posted on online review platforms. The Fake Review Provider admitted to aiding and abetting these unfair practices by generating fake review content, recruiting and paying reviewers, and taking steps to make the reviews appear authentic.
Actions Taken by CCS
11. Following CCS’s investigations and interventions, these businesses provided undertakings to CCS and committed to cease procuring or posting fake reviews and other unfair practices. They must also identify and remove fake reviews relating to their businesses, report their progress to CCS, strengthen their compliance measures, and publish a prominent public apology for six months on their websites, official social media accounts and at their physical premises or outlets.
12. The Fake Review Provider has similarly committed to cease providing fake review services and facilitating unfair practices, and to publish a public apology prominently on Reputifly’s website for six months. It has also voluntarily committed to donate proceeds obtained from its fake review services to an Institution of a Public Character of its choice[8].
Call for Businesses to Come Forward
13. CCS calls on all other fake review providers, as well as businesses that have procured fake reviews, to come forward voluntarily. Those who do so before CCS commences formal investigations against them will have their cooperation viewed favourably. Information may be provided at https://go.gov.sg/ccsresponse (opens in new tab).
CCS's message
14. “In the digital age, consumers increasingly rely on online reviews to decide what to buy and which businesses to trust. They should be able to expect that these reviews reflect genuine experiences, not manufactured ones. Fake reviews deceive consumers, distort competition and disadvantage businesses that compete honestly. Businesses should be under no illusion that paying for fake reviews is acceptable. Nor is it acceptable to profit from facilitating the creation or purchase of fake reviews; fake reviews are not a legitimate business. CCS will pursue not only those who buy them, but also those who profit from supplying them,” said Mr Alvin Koh, Chief Executive of CCS.
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Encl.
Infographics - Can You Trust That 5-Star Review? [PDF, 1.35 MB] (opens in new tab)
Annex A – Sample of Fake Review Packages for sale [PDF, 232.70 KB] (opens in new tab)
Annex B – Review Calculator [PDF, 239.97 KB] (opens in new tab)
Annex C – Review Dashboard [PDF, 239.74 KB] (opens in new tab)
Annex D – Telegram Channel [PDF, 167.56 KB] (opens in new tab)
Annex E – Sample T&Cs [PDF, 170.12 KB] (opens in new tab)
About the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore
The Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (“CCS”) is a statutory board of the Ministry of Trade and Industry. Our mission is to make markets work well to create opportunities and choices for businesses and consumers in Singapore.
CCS administers and enforces the Competition Act 2004 and the Consumer Protection (Fair Trading) Act 2003, to guard against anti-competitive activities and unfair trade practices. Additionally, CCS ensures that businesses observe fair trade measurement practices by administering the Weights and Measures Act 1975 and ensures the supply of safe consumer goods by enforcing and implementing the Consumer Protection (Trade Descriptions and Safety Requirements) Act 1975 and its associated Regulations.
For more information, please visit www.ccs.gov.sg (opens in new tab).
[1] These may include Google, Facebook, Tripadvisor, Carousell, Yelp and Trustpilot.
[2] Refer to Annex A for a sample of fake review packages for sale
[3] Refer to Annex B for screenshot of review calculator
[4] Refer to Annex C for screenshot of review dashboard
[5] Refer to Annex D for screenshot of Telegram channels
[6] Refer to Annex E for screenshot of terms and conditions
[7] The list of businesses investigated by CCS can be found in Annex F
[8] The Fake Review Provider will not claim any tax deduction arising from such donations